Hello everyone, my name is Tony. I have just acquired this 1979 Dodge and was wondering what everyone else had as far as lighting goes. The headlights on this truck have very poor lighting, What has everyone done to rectify this situation. I'm only looking to replace the driving lamps and not add any additional units. Any after market brands that are bright enough and and have a nice cut-off and have a nice light pattern? And if so, does anyone have any pics? Thanks in advance for any input.
mrhite65
07-09-2007, 05:38 PM
I took a 12 guage wire, an inline 30 amp fuse and hooked it to the main connection on the back of the alt. Then I hooked the other end to the positive side of the battery. Made everything light up stronger. This site also shows a way to get brighter lights and some other things to look at. http://www.madelectrical.com/electrical-tech.shtml
Speed Dragon
07-09-2007, 06:24 PM
You can add relays to the stock lighting system, I think bherder has a write-up on how he did his on here. There are also bolt-in H4 conversion housings, I have them in my truck. If you run the hi-power H4's though you'll need to relay them too, to keep from melting your headlight switch.
C1DoG
07-09-2007, 09:25 PM
JC Whitney has headlight conversion kits that use brighter lights, they use the HID style lights
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/VehicleBrowse/tf-VehicleBrowse/s-10101/N-111+1982+200005250+600009557/c-10614[/URL]
bherder
07-10-2007, 09:43 AM
Here ya go ... I did mine a little different (As in using tank and battleship parts ;) ) ... but it makes a world of difference. Couple that with some newer type headlights (Whatever flavor you like) and you'll be burning scorch marks in the blacktop as you drive :D
Thanks a ton everyone. You guys rock :rck: bherder: what would you say the total cost for the relays and wiring was? I've decided that I will beef up my wiring and add these set of headlights. Anyone have any feedback on Delta Tech headlamps?
bherder
07-10-2007, 06:22 PM
Thanks a ton everyone. You guys rock :rck: bherder: what would you say the total cost for the relays and wiring was? I've decided that I will beef up my wiring and add these set of headlights. Anyone have any feedback on Delta Tech headlamps?
Well, the relays I used (I already had one in the shop from a while back)
to buy new at NAPA are $50.00 each. You don't need these kind of relays though (A bit like hunting rabbits with an elephant gun) as they're basically used for hooking up a charging/power circuits for a travel trailer/boat/snow plow, etc. In other words something that may be pulling in 70-100 amps. But being as I had one already collecting dust and I like to WAY over-build things, I decided to get another and use these... Hey, it's a TRUCK, right? ;)
I understand you can buy 30ish amp relays for about $15.00 each or so, at most part stores. So if your looking at 'cost', that would be the way to go (Unless you really like having tank parts under the hood, like me :D :D )
Wire, depends on what you use ... Me (Again) went way overboard on guage size and you can easily get by using smaller than what I used. And since you have only two headlights to connect, rather than four, thats a lot less wiring and connectors all the way around.
Figure about $15.00 for wire and connectors (Unless you already have them)
Fuse holder(s) ... You can get by with one, but I chose two (One each for low/high beams) thinking that if something ever went wrong with one circuit, the other should work and some headlights are better than no headlights when you're 50 miles out in the middle of nowhere. About $5.00 each for fuses/fuse holders.
Fancy stuff ... I would STRONGLY STRONGLY suggest that you make all you wire/connector connections by soldering them, rather than crimping. And if you solder your connections, you should shrink-tube them. $4-5.00 for a package of assorted size shrink tube.
Using the split-loom is up to you.. If you want the wires to be protected and look really slick then go that route (About $10.00 worth) ... If not, forget about it. You can always just wrap the wires with electric tape.
Of course I couldn't stop here.. :D I added relays to the off road lights on my bull-bar and the behind-the-cab light-bar .... :D
